Three prominent Aamjiwnaang First Nation leaders were honoured for their contributions to the community, feted with praise, presents, song and stories during a feast at the Maawn Doosh Gumig Community and Youth Centre on Feb. 24.

Chief Joanne Rogers, Aamjiwnaang's first-ever female chief, long-standing councillor Errnol Gray and Aamjiwnaang elder Geraldine Robertson, a residential school survivor and a recent Order of Ontario recipient, were recognized for their service to the First Nation during an event marking the fourth anniversary of Aamjiwnaang's Heritage and Culture Club, E'Maawizidijig.

The club’s purpose is to both venerate those who have contributed to the cultural, economic and social fibre of Aamjiwnaang while educating youth, members and non-members about the First Nations' cultural traditions such as dance, song, language and art, said club member Marina Plain.

“We're a grassroots committee and it's an independent, volunteer club comprised mostly of elders,” Plain said. “Our goal is primarily to work for the youth – bring them in, teach them about the past and provide programming for them.”

Nearly 100 people crowded into a banquet room at the community centre to pay homage to the three honourees, who were presented with a variety of accolades and awards for their service.

“Geraldine led the way in educating people about residential schools as she is a survivor of two of these schools,” Plain said. “She helped in the making of the documentaries We Are Still Here and the next one, Aftershock, which told the story of the local survivors.”

“Errnol has been with us for 42 years as councillor,” she continued. “He's the most senior personal on council and he's done so much for community capacity building and he's made great, great contributions towards economic development.”

To honour Rogers, several members of the community gifted her an Ojibwe name during a special ceremony.

“It's very significant – we've never had a woman chief and as far as I'm aware, we've never had a chief receive her name within a ceremony,” Plain said.

Following the ceremony, Rogers spoke about the importance of supporting the E'Maawizidijig Heritage and Culture Club, specifically to inspire youth to take up the mantle of leadership in the future.

“It is really important to set an example for our young people,” she said. “The reason why (this event) is so important is that we need to continue to set an example for our women. To make them see that they, too, can be chief. If they have that passion, anything is possible.”

“The purpose of this club is not only to honour people in the community but also to educate our members and non-members on our traditions, our cultures and our teachings,” Rogers added. “That's the whole aim of it. And I always go back to relationships – the club is doing a great job in reaching out to people and bringing them in and educating them about what we do. It's so important.”